No-thing
Science says that in the beginning there was no-thing. So whatever created things could not have been a thing. So whatever must exist outside of things somehow created things. The "whatever outside of things" is source!

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out...ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realise it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon. You realise that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions. You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

Self-reliance
You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you - or didn't do for you - and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn't always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties... and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

Discernment
You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with. You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop manoeuvring through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes seemingly negative things happen to unsuspecting, good people... and you learn not to always take it personally.

Taking Responsibility for Yourself
Then you realise that life is about learning lessons by making mistakes, a series of challenges to be met and mastered and you begin to enjoy the rhythm of the challenges. You learn that nobody's punishing you and everything isn't always somebody's fault. It's just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire. You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

We are here to assist you with this process!


I remember when I was young...

When I was about 13 I just loved apples, I really looked forward to my afternoon apple each day, the explosion of life force, the juiciness. So anyway, one day I was mindlessly munching away on an apple while doing something else, and when I looked at the apple it was rotten, it made me sick, and I had such a fear reaction that I vowed in my wisdom to never eat another apple. I generalised from the particular, I judged the whole based upon an isolation, and a door closed in that moment. I allowed my fear to cause me to forget how much I enjoyed my apples, and to forget the joy that my heart experienced before the fear got a hold of me.

Years later I faced my irrational fear, and had another apple, I realised then that my fear had caused me to deny myself the opportunity to experience joy and life nurturing sustenance. Now I often enjoy an apple, I am careful to look for the signs that it is not rotten, and my first bite is small and cautious, but I do not discard an apple just because it has a few bruises on the skin either.

This is the Tao, the middle way, the way of wisdom my friend. We are always here for you my friend, when you feel worthy enough, when you are courageous enough, we will be here with an outstretched hand. Scepticism in order to perceive the truth and the caution which goes with it is the way of wisdom! But if you are sceptical in order to tear down, if you are a fault finder rather than a love finder then the truth shall allude you dear one. So be open, but not completely, for the GOD Within will create it's own knowing!

In our age filled with wondrous gadgets and glamorous distractions, I find it good to reflect upon the fact that the actual meaning of the word spirit is "to love". So often we have heard that GOD is LOVE, so it follows then that to realise GOD as a human being we must learn how to love, fully present, in each and every moment. Easy to say, but in the modern world this will be the hardest thing you will ever do my friends.

But why is this being 'in, of and for love' in each and every moment so difficult?
The answer is indeed simple, and is answered beautifully in the words of the Veda's, 'GOD equals Man minus ego'. The ego, or perhaps to be more accurate, the fear based component of the ego, is something that we all create by giving in to fear. We believe our own lies, we do not own our personal power and we often do not act out of the wellspring of wisdom inside each and every one of us that is the 'God Within'. There is really but one choice in life, the choice between LOVE and fear! Fear contracts, closes down, inhibits, draws in, runs, hides, hoards, harms and separates. LOVE on the other hand, expands, nurtures, supports, tolerates, understands, is patient, opens up, sends out, stays, reveals, is honest, shares, unifies and heals. Every encounter, every situation in your life is a challenge that is an opportunity to choose love rather than fear and so move forward on the path of the spiritual growth.

Fear is frozen love
Fear is frozen LOVE and every time you give into fear you energise and create the fear based component of the ego. The task really is to raise and purify the vibration of real to return it to unity, integrity, non-attachment and unconditional-ness!

©The Insight Foundation
Michael King is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Insight Foundation www.theinsightfoundation.org.au